Renters insurance may not be required, but having a policy is certainly a smart idea. Here are some reasons why you should have renter’s insurance.
Why you might need renter’s insurance
Avoid paying out of pocket for stolen or damaged goods.
Having to pay out of pocket for damaged or stolen personal items in your rented apartment, condo or house is not ideal for most tenants. Additionally, your landlord’s insurance policy will not cover your personal belongings, making a separate renters insurance policy necessary for full coverage.
Protect yourself from liability
Keep in mind that renter’s insurance doesn’t just apply to your belongings. It can also protect you from liability in a situation such as a guest being injured in your home. If you don’t foresee having the funds to cover expensive medical bills or legal fees on your own, renters insurance can come in handy.
How to get renters insurance
Estimate the value of your personal property
The monetary value of your personal belongings in your rented space may be more than you think. Take an inventory of every item in your space – from electronics to art to home goods to clothing. Estimate the current value of these items (not what you paid for them) and tally them up. This is a good way to approximate how much insurance you will need in the event your belongings are stolen or destroyed.
Get a renter’s insurance quote
Just call one of our experienced insurance agents to help determine the best coverage and plan for your financial situation. Remember that a higher deductible means a lower insurance premium and a lower deductible means a higher premium – plan your renters insurance budget accordingly.

You need commercial auto insurance for any vehicle that your company uses for business purposes, any vehicle that has a commercial license plate or tag and any vehicle that is registered as a commercial auto.
You must also get commercial auto coverage if your employees will be driving or using vehicles in the course of doing business, whether making deliveries, driving people to the airport or running errands on behalf of the business.
If you use your vehicle for any of the following functions, you may also be required to get commercial coverage:

• Using the vehicle to carry equipment
• Transporting flammable or hazardous material
• Transporting housekeeping equipment for business use
• Using, carrying or transporting cranes, or a winch or plow
• Hiring your vehicle out to tow other vehicles
• Delivering any goods such as pizza or any form of wholesale or retail products
• Delivering newspapers
• Trucking and freight transportation
• Transporting people as a chauffeur, limousine service or taxi service

Some situations and certain occupations may be covered under standard auto policies, but you should always ask our insurance agency if your vehicle use warrants a commercial policy.

It's important that mobile home owners understand they have different insurance coverage requirements. We provide mobile home insurance policies for all types of manufactured and mobile home owners. When you choose our agency, you will receive the following:

• Customized coverage options for your mobile home insurance policy
• Liability coverage if you are responsible for an accident on your property
• Coverage for your mobile home insurance additions

Insurers commonly provide coverage for mobile/manufactured homes by modifying a conventional homeowner policy with provisions called endorsements. The endorsements change key definitions and other elements of a conventional policy to fit a mobile or manufactured home situation. The result is a modified homeowner package that protects the home, outbuildings (unattached garages, sheds, etc.) and personal property. They also provide insurance for personal liability. Regardless of the type of home you own or live in, it is important that you learn about the coverage options that are available. You may find that different policies vary considerably in coverage and price.
Coverage for mobile/manufactured homes is generally offered using two approaches. Some policies include a laundry list of items (or perils) that may cause a loss. Other policies protect your home against everything EXCEPT for a host of specified perils. Either approach includes liability coverage that protects you for injuries or losses to others which you accidentally cause.

As your business becomes more successful, the risks of operating without proper insurance increase. Buying business insurance? Make the right choice for your company with these four tips:
1. Do Your Homework
The self-employed need to have their own back. Whether you’re a solopreneur with a web-based business, an independent contractor, or a freelance artist, you need to protect yourself and your assets. And as your business becomes more successful, the risks of doing business without proper insurance increase exponentially. In the end, you’re the boss and the buck stops with you. If you don’t protect yourself, who will?
Any event that results in a loss of income—natural disasters, acts of vandalism, illness, or frivolous lawsuits—could potentially sink your business. The best way to protect your business is with comprehensive insurance, but can you afford it?
Feeling overwhelmed by the variety of plans and packages available? Contact our agency.
We will begin by researching the insurance packages commonly carried by professionals in your industry. Depending on the nature of your business, you might need one or several of the following: general liability, commercial property insurance, professional liability, product liability, business interruption and worker’s compensation.
2. Know Your Risks
When you apply for a policy, your insurance company will measure the information contained in your application against a model of “acceptable risk” generated by an underwriter. In order to clear a profit, insurers need to do everything in their power to avoid clients whose behavior, occupation, or professional record suggests excessive risk.
An underwriter will assess your application to determine the rates and terms of your policy. Every underwritten policy carries a premium as well as a deductible. A premium is essentially the fee you pay in order to remain insured, and premiums vary widely from provider to provider.
A deductible is the amount of money you agree to pay every time you make a claim. Generally speaking, your deductible and your premium have an inverse relationship: If you agree to carry a higher deductible, then your premium payments will be significantly lower. But tread carefully: A low-premium, high-deductible policy seems like a bargain until it’s time to make a claim.
3. Let Us Shop Around for You
Insurance is the single greatest expense for many independent contractors. The cost of insurance varies for every business, but some providers specialize in insuring specific types of businesses, including independent contractors.
Our commercial insurance agents can guide you to a policy that fits the needs of your business. Our agency offers policies from a variety of companies, not just one.
Bottom Line: Running a business is an investment, and every investment contains a certain degree of risk. No matter what you do, you will never be able to eliminate risk from the freelance equation, but by buying the right insurance at the right price, you can moderate the financial risk associated with unexpected events. Nothing is as precious as peace of mind.

Family on Boat
The wind in your hair, the sun on your face, and the open water in front of you. Sound appealing? Then you might want to join the ranks of boat owners all over the country. But before you cut through that clear blue, there are some things to keep in mind. Whether you're buying a fishing boat, cabin cruiser, pontoon or speed boat, different components like cost, horsepower, weight capacity or onboard storage may prove to be more important to you than others.
Answer these questions before going boat shopping:
Use
What are you hoping to use your boat for? All boat styles have a different design tailored to the use. Speed boats may be better for tubing and water skiing but wouldn't hold as many people or be as fish accessible as a pontoon or fishing boat. Maybe you're in the market for a sailboat or leaning towards a houseboat. There are so many different varieties of boats, so make an informed decision on which one is right for you.
Cost
What's your budget? This may help decide whether to purchase a pre-owned boat. New boats depreciate anywhere between 25%-33% immediately after leaving the dealer's lot. So, if you buy a pre-owned boat, someone else has already paid that depreciation cost - more boat for fewer dollars! However, buying a new boat will offer a warranty, the newest technology, and that nice shiny look as you move across the water - the choice is up to you!
Capacity
How many people are you hoping to go on your boating excursions with? The capacity on personal fishing boats is generally smaller than a pontoon boat, which are made to hold anywhere between 8-15 adults comfortably.
Equipment
What type of equipment will you want onboard? Here's some suggestions:

• Trolling Motor
• Lights
• Depth finder
• Live well
• GPS
• Canopy
• Stereo
• Tables
• Emergency survival kit
• Fire extinguisher

Towing
Will your car be able to tow the new boat? According to Auto Bytel, the average 21-foot boat trailer weighs between 500 and 1,000 pounds, while most boats in this size range hover in the 4,000-5,000-pound range. This means that you'll want an SUV or truck that is rated to tow between 4,500-6,000 pounds in total.
Storage Limitations
Will your new boat fit in your garage during the off season? Alongside your garage? In a separate storage space?
And a few other components to consider...

• Horsepower
• Engine Type
• Hull (Deep V, Modified V, Pontoon, etc.)
• Storage Onboard

Insuring your dream boat should be at the top of your list. Homeowner’s policies have limited coverage and several exclusions, so make plans to check with our agency for a no-obligation consultation on your specific needs.

Shopping for your dream house? There are many considerations when looking at real estate, like property taxes, school district, the appeal of the neighborhood—and, of course, the bottom line. Don't overlook the financial implications of homeowner’s insurance as part of your overall investment. Use this guide to help think through all the costs associated with buying a home.
Before house hunting
Set yourself up to be a financially desirable buyer.
1. Check your credit rating
A good credit history makes it easier to get a mortgage at a competitive interest rate, and may also qualify you for a good credit discount on your insurance. Obtain a copy of one or all of your credit reports. Make sure they are accurate and report any mistakes immediately. If your credit is not as good as it could be, take steps now to improve it.
2. Protect yourself with a renter’s insurance policy
If you are currently renting a house or apartment, protect yourself financially with a renter’s insurance policy. In the event of a disaster, renters’ insurance can help protect the down payment you’re building to buy your new home, as well as provide a useful insurance history to your prospective homeowner’s insurer when you go to buy your first home.
While house hunting
As you search for your new home, remember that the physical characteristics of the house—its size, location, construction and overall condition—can affect the cost, choice and availability of home insurance. In some cases, desirable features—like ornate plasterwork or proximity to the coastline—can make insuring a home costlier or more difficult. Some factors to consider when shopping for a home are:
3. Quality and location of the fire department
Houses that are located near highly rated, permanently staffed fire departments usually cost less to insure. This also holds true for homes that have a hydrant nearby.
4. Proximity to the coastline
Houses located on or near the coast will generally cost more to insure than those further inland. They will also likely require a separate hurricane or windstorm deductible. In some coastal communities, private homeowner’s insurance coverage may not be readily available. Instead, you may need to purchase insurance through a state-run insurance program.
5. Age of the home
A stately, older home can be quite beautiful but ornate features like plaster walls, ceiling molding and wooden floors may be costly to replace and can raise the cost of insurance. And plumbing and electrical systems can become unsafe with age and lack of maintenance. If you are considering buying an older home find out how much it will cost to update these features and factor that into the cost of ownership.
6. Condition of the roof
A new roof matters to insurers and keeps you and your family safer. Make sure to check the roof's condition. Depending on the type of roof and whether or not it's made with fire and/or hail resistant materials, you may even qualify for an insurance discount.
7. Quality of construction
Find out whether the house has been updated to comply with current building codes. Homes well built by careful craftsmen and those constructed to meet modern engineering-based building codes are likely to better withstand natural disasters.
8. Risk of flooding
Damage from flooding is NOT covered by standard home insurance policies. If you are buying a home in an area at risk from flooding, you will need to purchase separate flood insurance, which is available from the federal government’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and from a few specialty insurers.
9. History of earthquakes
While earthquakes are most frequently associated with California, they occur in the majority of states and are not covered under standard home insurance policies. Earthquake insurance is available from private insurers as an endorsement to a homeowner’s policy, and in California from the California Earthquake Authority.
10. Swimming pool or other special features
If the house has a swimming pool, hot tub or other special feature, you will likely need more liability insurance. You may also want to consider purchasing an umbrella liability policy to provide added protection in the event someone gets injured on your property and decides to sue you.
Before you place a bid on the home
Take precautions and understand the house's history, current condition, potential trouble spots—and costs.
11. Check the loss history report
Ask the current homeowner to obtain a copy of the loss history report on the home. Homeowners can obtain either a Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (C.L.U.E.) report, which is available from LexisNexis, or an A-PLUSTM property report from ISO®. These reports provide a record of the type of loss on the home and can provide extremely valuable information. For instance, if there was a claim for water damage on the home, it is important to find out the source of the damage (such as a burst pipe) and whether it has been properly repaired. On the other hand, a claim for wind or hail that resulted in a new roof makes the home stronger and is very attractive from an insurance perspective.  
12. Get the house inspected
You’ll need to have the house inspected by a credentialed home inspector in order to get your mortgage approved. Accompany the inspector to make sure he or she is thorough and makes sure to:

• Check the general condition of the home
• Look for water damage, termites and other types of infestation
• Review the electrical system, plumbing, septic tank and water heater
• Show you where potential problems might develop
• Double-check that past problems have been repaired
• Suggest important upgrades or replacements

If the inspector raises questions, your insurance company will as well. Be sure to find out if there is an underground oil storage tank, as many insurers will not provide policies for homes that have one.
13. Estimate maintenance costs
Routine maintenance is your responsibility as a homeowner so be sure to factor these costs into the overall price of owning the home. Losses caused by failing to properly care for your home are not covered by standard homeowner’s insurance policies.
14. Call our agency
Don’t wait until the last minute to think about homeowner’s insurance and don’t be shy about asking for estimates on more than one house. Ask if the house will qualify and get an estimate of the premium. The sooner you speak with one of our insurance professionals, the smoother the process will be. If you're uncomfortable with the cost of insuring a particular house, look for one that better fits your financial situation.

Whether you own a coffee shop or a pizzeria or a cantina, you need some fundamental business insurance
to get started. Many of your exposures can be addressed by…

• General Liability Insurance, which pays for your defense when a third party (e.g., a patron) sues
• over bodily injuries and property damage. Some policies also cover advertising injuries, such as
• lawsuits over copyright infringements.
• Property Insurance, which pays to replace or repair damaged equipment, inventory, or restaurant space.
• Umbrella Insurance, which supplements coverage when certain underlying liability policies have reached their limits.
• Workers’ Compensation Insurance, which reimburses employees who are injured on the job.

Additionally, restaurant owners can often get their General Liability and Property Insurance bundled into a Business Owner’s Policy (BOP), which is more cost-effective than buying each policy individually.
While those policies may cover the basics, the where, when, what, and how of each food service operation impacts its insurance needs. For example, consider the unique exposures of a food truck, catering service, banquet hall, or nightclub. Clients in these professions might also need…

• Commercial Auto Insurance to protect their business-owned vehicles.
• Inland Marine Insurance to cover their equipment in transit.
• Liquor Liability Insurance to pay for legal expenses when an over-served patron wreaks havoc on the community and the client is held accountable.

These policies represent the coverages most restaurant and bar owners need to protect their business assets. Our agency will still need to thoroughly review your business to determine what other policies it needs. We welcome the chance to go over your insurance needs and provide the protection that brings you peace of mind.

As an independent agent, we know the importance of properly classifying our clients.
And handymen can be especially easy to misclassify because they do so many odd jobs.
We will ask the following questions to make sure to get your classification and coverage right the first time:
1. What specific services do you provide?

• A handyman does a little bit of everything, but some of those tasks have the potential to affect their classification and their rates. For example,
• A client who maintains or secures real estate-owned property (i.e., property owned by a lender after an unsuccessful foreclosure auction) is probably not a handyman. They are in property preservation and require different insurance.
• A client who modifies or repairs load-bearing elements, such as walls or foundations, is in structural remodeling. This classification also requires different coverage than a general maintenance worker.
• Some handymen qualify for a Business Owner’s Policy, but a client whose work involves hazardous activities, such as climbing ladders or using heavy machinery, probably will not.

2. How many employees do you have?

• Maintenance workers are typically sole proprietors, but that isn’t always the case. Recently, the industry has seen an uptick in franchises offering handyman services. Here’s what this means from an insurance standpoint:
• Sole proprietors may be able to exclude themselves from Workers ‘Compensation Insurance. We will check your state laws to be sure.
• A client who runs a handyman service may have employees who perform non-handyman tasks (e.g., administrative assistants or payroll specialists). Be sure every employee is classified correctly to minimize Workers’ Comp costs.

3. Do you travel to multiple sites?

• Handymen who move from site to site have some extra risk exposures to consider. If our client drives to different locations for work we will suggest they invest in Commercial Auto Insurance. Most insurers see commercial use and personal use as significantly different risks, so our clients should look into Commercial Auto even if they drive their own vehicle for work.
• We will offer an Inland Marine Insurance policy to cover equipment and tools in transit or on a worksite.